BrainChip Inc. and NaNose Medical Successfully Detect COVID-19 in Exhaled Breath with Fast High-Accuracy Results
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25 February 2021, 07:19 GMT+8
BrainChip Inc. and NaNose Medical Successfully Detect COVID-19 in Exhaled
Breath with Fast High-Accuracy Results
Akida AI chip ideal for hand-held diagnostic testing device
Business Wire
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. -- February 24, 2021
BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN), a leading provider of ultra-low power high
performance artificial intelligence technology, today announced progress in
testing with the NaNose (Nano Artificial Nose) where patients’ exhaled breath
samples were tested for COVID-19.
NaNose Medical technology, based on the artificial nose developed at the
Technion Israel Institute of Technology, has the same sensitivity to minute
quantities of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as a dog’s nose. It has been
tested by the Technion since 2017 to identify diseases including Parkinson's,
cancers, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis and infectious diseases such as
COVID-19. NaNose Medical collected samples from 130 patients and sent
nanomaterial sensor data to BrainChip’s Research Institute in Perth, Western
Australia, which configured and trained its Akida™ neuromorphic processor to
interpret the data using AI/ML. The system detected the instances of COVID-19
between a disease group and a healthy control group and Akida learned to
recognize patterns of VOC biomarkers associated with an infection within
seconds with a high level of accuracy in a minimal time frame. NaNose Medical
is currently collecting samples from three primary worldwide locations and
will work with BrainChip to evaluate the data.
A study in China confirmed that breath sensor data is more accurate than the
reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test typically used.
Accurate testing is key at early stages, even before symptoms manifest, and
after treatment before patients are discharged into their communities.
Using the NaNose Medical sensor array to collect the data, and Akida to
perform the diagnosis, can have a higher rate of reliability than current
testing methods and poses less risk to medical professionals because no saliva
or mucus samples are collected. COVID-19 is known to be spread through
respiratory droplets, and more recently has been confirmed to be airborne.
Because Akida’s “Edge AI” is a complete neural processor that does not require
an external CPU, memory, or Deep Learning Accelerator (DLA), and because it is
ultra-low power, it offers a realistic opportunity for an inexpensive
hand-held diagnostic testing tool akin to a breathalyzer.
“Artificial intelligence in medicine and healthcare is an emerging field and
one in which we are eager to contribute with our edge AI processing solution
at the Edge, for the benefit of science and humanity,” said Louis DiNardo,
BrainChip CEO. Both Louis DiNardo, Brainchip CEO and Orit Marom Albeck, NaNose
Medical CEO said: “Using the NaNose Medical artificial nose, and Akida’s
artificial brain, is a potential breakthrough in accurate, fast, inexpensive,
widespread testing with the potential to control outbreaks and reduce this
disease’s death toll.”
AI/ML is transformational in medical and healthcare, from bioscience research
and pathology to primary care. Akida neuromorphic computing and advanced
neural networking processors support new and evolving uses such as identifying
disease markers in blood or breath, detecting abnormalities in X-rays, CT
scans, and MRIs, cancer diagnostics, device/sensor data, and more.
Akida brings artificial intelligence to the edge in a way that existing
technologies are not capable of. The solution is high-performance, small,
ultra-low power and enables a wide array of edge capabilities. The Akida
Neuromorphic System-on-Chip, licensable IP, and Akida Development Environment
machine learning framework are targeted for applications and devices including
Smart Home, Smart City, Smart Healthcare and Smart Transportation.
BRN Price at posting:
51.5¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
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